Pilotstudie for etablering av en systematisk modell for emneevaluering og evaluering av klinisk ferdighetstrening: Gir klinisk ferdighetstrening studentterapeuter mindre bekymring, mer mestringstro og hensiktsmessig bruk av mestringsstrategier?

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of professional preparation course in clinical psychology implemented at The Arctic University of Norway on student therapists’ reported concerns, degree of perceived self-efficacy and use of different coping strategies. We also examined the effect of clinical experience. Instruments used to measure outcome variables were “Beginner Therapists' Concerns” (Nielsen et. al. 2009), “Revised Ways of Coping Questionnaire” (Sørlie & Sexton, 2001) and “General Self-Efficacy Scale” (Røysamb, Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1998). Descriptive statistics, t-tests and linear regression analyses with associated tests of assumptions were performed to estimate group differences and identify significant change. Power quantities were calculated through Cohen’s d and squared regression coefficients (R2). Findings indicate that the professional preparation course does not have a significant impact on student therapists’ degree of concern, self- efficacy or use of different coping strategies. Our study suggests that clinical experience has a significant increasing effect on student therapists’ degree of concern and that student therapists tend to use active coping strategies after their first clinical experience to address concerns. More research is needed to determine the possible impact of the professional preparation course on concern, self-efficacy and coping strategies during and after clinical practice.